KFOR Intensifies Operations, Drills, and Training as NATO Officials Visit KosovoIn recent days, KFOR (Kosovo Force) has significantly ramped up its activities, conducting various operations, drills, tests, and training exercises. The NATO peacekeeping mission has been actively engaged with numerous activities, including ground patrols, aerial patrols, and training sessions. On Friday, KFOR troops carried out a land patrol near the border with Serbia, followed by an aerial patrol with helicopters the next day.The mission also worked on leveling the ground for “the military airport in Pristina,” stating that this would “help protect the safety of air operations.”In addition to the visit by the CIA Director, William Burns, NATO officials are also arriving in Kosovo.
Following the Kosovo Government’s announcement that the main bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica will be opened, KFOR has increased its presence around the area, warning that it will not hesitate to respond to any developments that could impact security and regional stability.
International officials have been trying for months to convince Prime Minister Albin Kurti to delay the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar River, warning of a “real risk” of “violence and other issues.”
In the past week, KFOR has conducted a range of activities, including land and aerial patrols along the border with Serbia, training exercises, shooting drills, various tests, and helicopter training. Over two days (August 23-24), KFOR troops carried out six of these activities.
On Friday, August 23, KFOR announced that American and German soldiers had conducted training to test “various medical support procedures.” This was described as “part of regular activities conducted to maintain the highest level of readiness and interoperability between different contingents deployed with KFOR.”
Just ten minutes later, KFOR reported a land patrol along the border. The mission stated that these activities were “part of KFOR’s daily efforts to ensure sustainable security for all local communities living in Kosovo and to support regional stability.”
Forty minutes later, KFOR announced that Latvian soldiers had participated in a “hot/cold load training exercise at Camp Novosellë,” where they trained in helicopter security procedures for emergency loading. The following day, KFOR reported that the Multinational Specialized Unit of the NATO mission conducted a “live-fire training exercise in Pristina,” which was said to be “part of regular training to test procedures and maintain the highest standards of operational effectiveness.”
An hour later, KFOR announced that the members of the Joint Implementation Commission of the NATO Regional Command East had conducted an “aerial patrol” to “monitor the situation” along the border with Serbia. These activities were said to assist in “promoting sustainable security for all local communities and consolidating regional stability.”
Similar activities continued the next day. The Multinational Specialized Unit and instructors from the Hungarian KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion conducted a “firefighting training exercise” at Camp Novosellë with personnel from the Italian Carabinieri, Czech “Volenska” Police, and Moldovan General Inspectorate of Carabinieri.
Less than three hours later, KFOR announced the completion of a 24-hour operation conducted by the Kinetic Battalion of the Regional Command West. KFOR reported that “Croatian and Italian personnel performed a series of activities” along the border, including “establishing a tactical command post.”
Another announcement came about an hour later, revealing that the Finnish Engineering Platoon assigned to the Regional Command East had completed a project to level the ground “for the military airport in Pristina.” KFOR stated that this would “help protect the safety of air operations.”
KFOR is also participating in the EUFOR-led exercise “Quick Response 2024” in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CIA Chief and NATO Officials Discuss Ibar Bridge Issue
Last week, CIA Director William Burns visited the region and came to Kosovo. He met with President Vjosa Osmani on Thursday and wrote to Prime Minister Albin Kurti the following day requesting a meeting.
Admiral Stuart Munsch, Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, was also in Kosovo and met with Kurti.
In a government meeting today, the Prime Minister mentioned these visits and announced a forthcoming visit by Thomas Goffus, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations. Kurti said that in these meetings “the issue of opening the central bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica is naturally discussed,” adding that the government is making “all necessary consultations and working on it.”
Kurti did not announce any actions regarding the bridge’s opening today and did not provide a date, mentioning only “necessary consultations.”
U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier has stated that there is a real risk associated with opening the bridge at this time, which could impact NATO troops’ security, including American soldiers.
“We believe this risk increases the threat, the potential for violence, and other issues for both the local community and NATO troops, including American soldiers working to ensure peace and security in Kosovo. We take any action that could impact the safety and protection of American soldiers working to support Kosovo very seriously,” Hovenier said in an interview with Radio Free Europe on August 13, adding that they hope “the Government will heed this and consider these concerns.”
EU spokesperson Peter Stano has warned Kosovo that it risks being “left alone and behind” if it does not listen to its friends and allies.
“We have nothing to say on the issue of reopening the bridge. I can only remind all those who have difficulty listening and understanding that all of Kosovo’s friends and allies [EU, US, NATO, and the UK] have clearly and unequivocally stated that it is in Kosovo’s interest to listen to its friends and allies, otherwise, it risks being left alone and falling behind,” Stano said in a statement on August 16.
The international community and KFOR maintain that the issue of reopening the bridge over the Ibar River should be discussed in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels.
